Over the weekend, Jens Martin Skibsted of Biomega sent me a few pictures of the company’s booth at the recent Taipei Cycle show. The most notable picture that I want to pass along is this carbon fiber version of the Mark Newson designed bike, which they just previewed at the show. I have mentioned before that I think there is a market for comfort or commuter oriented designs made from high-end materials like carbon fiber. I don’t know what the cost will be for this carbon MN bike when it comes out, but I doubt it will come cheap. It certainly isn’t for everyone (and I assume the release will be limited and exclusive), but I expect this bike to get a lot of attention when it hits the market.

Several of the show pictures that Jens Martin sent me indicate that the Biomega booth was pretty crowed during the show. In the picture below, you can see a group of show attendees taking a look at the Ross Lovegrove designed bamboo bike. In addition to the Newson carbon bike, I am told that the Lovegrove bike had a big following in Taipei.

surly carbon will trickle down eventually to be on all but the cheapest bikes, in britain there are decent enough bikes at £1200 bikes that are full carbon. Id have thought it was just a matter of time before carbon commuting bikes were available and not just super exclusive one offs.

I just heard a report on the radio that either there was going to be a very high tax or a ban completely on electric scooters and bicycles. I got so damn mad I thought my head was going to break open. The reason for the ban was because of studies showing that the batteries on these vehicles were too volatile and were prone to explosions.

I think they are initially going to say there is a ban when there really isn’t one, so that the tax on them won’t seem so bad.

…mark…i read a report recently that the great proliferation of electric scooters & e-bikes in china has officials concerned due to the lead pollution from all those batteries……i assume (& i don’t know the technology) that battery development is continually evolving & that eventually lead will be phased out…

That frame is going to break at the bottom bracket if anyone heavy is riding it and the rear wheel is impacted. Sure it looks intriguing without seat stays of any sort, but what a waste of materials and energy when the frame won’t last. Get a used bike instead.